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Positively A Capella
I’ve got some high and low notes this week but that’s life for you.
A Tragic Loss
Andy Beveridge was a Facebook friend of mine. We never met face to face except once by Skype. He thought it was absolutely marvelous that I was Skyping him from my kids’ treehouse. I needed the silence and seclusion that the treehouse afforded me at that particular time and it was a joy for him.
Andy was a British expat living in France at the time. A bit later, he migrated down to the Mediterranean coast of Spain. He had found his happy place and was a self-sustaining businessman who delighted in helping others to attain a similarly independent lifestyle.
Sadly, Andy passed away this week. He had recently had a heart attack and indications were that he was on the mend. Unfortunately, he had another heart attack and could not be revived. He was a bright spot on my Facebook feed and his wit and wisdom will be missed.
A Capella
Citizen Queen
Rachel Platten
Pentatonix
My daughter, Dorothy, will be 19 at the end of the month. Her birthday wish was to attend the Pentatonix concert at the PPL Center in Allentown. I’ve got to say, I was actually dreading a night of a capella music but they really put on a heck of a show.
The opening act had a bit of a hiccup when one of the young ladies from Citizen Queen shouted out “How’s it going, Massachusetts?!?“. The crowd was a bit mystified how we’d suddenly been transported from Pennsylvania but the other ladies quickly jumped to her rescue and reoriented us to our actual locale here in Pennsylvania. I’ve linked a couple of their songs above for your enjoyment.
Rachel Platten was next on deck and she did not disappoint. I’ve linked the songs for which she is most well known above. I really enjoyed her performance and her positive attitude. She’s a new mother and has been suffering from post-partum depression while on tour. Her daughter is 4 months old and has the good fortune to have her mom get spiritually recharged by the audience at each performance.
The headline performers were absolutely on point. Their skill as musicians was enhanced by their phenomenal light show. Their use of visuals along with their breadth of material was truly impressive and enjoyable. The thing that stuck out for me was Kevin’s performance of the Game of Thrones theme song on his cello. I’ve linked that above with some of their signature tunes.
The thing that really made the whole night enjoyable was the constant positivity. The performers were all so grateful for the opportunity to make their living doing what they love and excel at. There was no political nonsense. They just wanted to make people happy and perform their music. That was the shining bow on the whole package.
A Reminder
I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you’re grateful, you’ll see God open up new doors. ~Joel Osteen
Scott Hoying of Pentatonix was emphasizing how grateful they were to be in such a large venue. They’ve been together for 8 years and they have reached a point in their career where an a capella group can bring an audience of over ten thousand screaming fans together to enjoy their music.
My dad got really great news today as well. His recent surgery seems to have successfully removed all potentially cancerous growth from his kidney and he’s in the clear again. He’s got a lot of family and friends who are genuinely grateful for the lifesaving skills of his surgical team.
It’s so easy to get caught up in life’s turmoil and lose track of all the miracles that bless our lives every day. All the humdrum routines and the petty details of everyday life can obstruct our view of just how amazing life can be if you simply let it.
Nobody’s more guilty of this than me. I’m trying to be more mindful of the blessings in my life but I’m still struggling to make my way out of the dark place I’ve been coming back from for the last couple of years. Life is tough when you’re flat-ass broke and recovering from injuries of various sorts. It’s easy to give in to dread and despair.
I’m glad I have these constant reminders that life is good and getting better all the time. I thank God for my family and friends. I look forward to the day when the raging monster inside of me is finally quiet again.
For the time being, I have to take things as they come and find a way to provide value again. There’s nothing more disheartening than feeling useless. It’s a dreadful soul-killer and I’m having difficulty fending it off.
Fortunately, I have a wife who loves me more than I even love myself (which is virtually not at all). She lifts me up when I fall no matter how horrible I’m being. I don’t deserve her but she chose me and I’m so grateful that she loves me like she does. She’s my best friend. I’m glad that she is.
That’s the state of me today. I’m not feeling great but I am feeling grateful.